An accurate automated blood pressure device for use in pregnancy and pre‐eclampsia: the Microlife 3BTO‐A

OBJECTIVE: To assess the accuracy of an automated blood pressure device (Microlife 3BTO-A) in pregnancy and pre-eclampsia according to the British Hypertension Society (BHS) protocol. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: Antenatal ward and clinics at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK. POPULATION: One hundred and five pregnant women including 35 women with non-proteinuric hypertension and 35 with pre-eclampsia. METHODS: Two trained observers took nine sequential same-arm measurements from each woman. Measurements alternated between a mercury sphygmomanometer and the device. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Grading criteria of the BHS protocol (A/B grade = pass; C/D grade = fail). RESULTS: The device passed the BHS protocol by achieving an A/B grade. It also achieved criteria of the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation for systolic and diastolic pressures respectively, in normotensive -0.5 (5.7) mmHg; -0.07 (7.7) mmHg, non-proteinuric hypertensive -3.3 (6.9) mmHg; -2.4 (6.6) mmHg and pre-eclamptic pregnancy -4.1 (6.4) mmHg; -1.3 (7.9) mmHg. CONCLUSION: The Microlife 3BTO-A can be recommended for use in a pregnant population, including pre-eclampsia, according to the BHS protocol.